Tag Archives: paprika

I love potato salad in the summer, but wanted to make a healthier version that still had summer flavor. So, I used sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes and a vinegar based dressing instead of mayo. I was really happy with how this turned out! I’ll definitely make it again.

Smokey Sweet Potato Salad

Pieces:

3 sweet potatoes

5-6 slices bacon (I used turkey bacon)

4 tbsp. honey mustard

2 tbsp. white wine vinegar

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. grated lemon rind

1 tbsp. smoked paprika

one half tsp. coriander

salt and pepper

Process:

Peel the sweet potatoes. Cut them lengthwise into quarters or fifths. Then cut into bite sized pieces.

Roast the sweet potato pieces with a light sprinkling of salt and pepper at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, until the sweets are tender when pierced with a fork (but not mushy).

Slice the bacon into small bite sized pieces. Saute the bacon pieces on medium heat until crispy.

In a large bowl, combine the sweet potatoes and bacon.

Make the dressing by adding the honey mustard, white wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon rind, paprika, and coriander to a shaker or bowl. Shake or stir to combine.

Sunday afternoons are when I clean the house, make lunches for the week, and enjoy some time to gear up for the always busy week. I do love cooking, but sometimes I also love just throwing some ingredients in the crockpot and letting it simmer while I enjoy my Sunday afternoon. So this week, I did just that. The result was a delicious Sunday night dinner with very little effort!

Orange and Paprika Drummies

Pieces:

10 chicken drumsticks

1 cup gluten free chicken broth

2 tsp. chopped garlic

juice of one orange plus 2 tbsp. orange zest

one quarter cup gluten free soy sauce

2 tbsp. smoked paprika

salt and pepper

white rice, cooked to package directions

one cup frozen peas

one cup frozen corn

Process:

In the crockpot, lay the chicken drumsticks in the chicken broth and smother the drummies with the garlic, orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper.

Cook on high for 3 hours.

When the chicken is almost done, cook white rice according to package directions.

When the rice is just about done cooking (with about 1-2 minutes left), add the frozen peas and corn and cook them in the rice.

Serve the rice, corn, and peas in a bowl and top with the chicken drumsticks.

I was actually in the mood for something hearty this weekend as the weather started to cool down (even though I am in total denial about summer ending). So, I decided to make turkey meatloaf, and add the heartiness of bacon to it. It was delicious! I know that meatloaf has a bad reputation, but this turned out really well. It is pretty healthy with the turkey meat, and the bacon added some flavor. I will definitely make it again. You could even make meatballs out of it if you wanted to.

Bacon and Onion Meatloaf

Pieces:

1 lb. ground turkey (or beef if you prefer)

one half of an onion, finely chopped

7 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces (I use kitchen scissors)

one half cup gluten free bread crumbs

1 egg and 1 egg white

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. chopped garlic

salt and pepper to taste

4 tbsp. ketchup

2 tbsp. honey

Process:

In a large bowl, combine the turkey, onion, bacon, bread crumbs, eggs, paprika, cumin, garlic, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to combine the mixture, but don’t handle it too much or make it too dense by squeezing too hard.

Once combined, form it into a loaf shape.

Place the loaf into a shallow and greased pan.

Put the pan and loaf into the fridge for 10 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 65 minutes. Halfway through baking, about 30 minutes in, drizzle the honey and ketchup on top of the loaf.

When cooked, take the pan out of the oven and let it sit for about 5-7 minutes.

I am really loving having a grill and the summer to enjoy it in! It is such an easy cooking method and perfect for summer foods. Lately, I have been enjoying grilled corn on the cob and chicken. Here is a smokey chicken rub that I tried and loved. The chicken marinade makes it especially juicy and tender when served hot off the grill. Yum!

Smokey Garlic Lime Chicken

Pieces:

2 chicken breasts

1 tsp. garlic salt

2 tsp. smoked paprika

one half tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. cumin

one half tsp. nutmeg

one half tsp. red chili powder

1 tsp. ground ginger

the juice of one lime

1 tsp. chopped garlic

Process:

In a large bowl, coat both sides of the chicken with the garlic salt, paprika, cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, red chili powder, and ginger.

Add the lime juice and garlic. Let the chicken marinate for about 3 hours.

Looking for something different? How about this different flavor combination with traditional meatballs? Unique, delicious, smokey, deeply flavored… I could go on. But you really need to taste them to believe how great these Mediterranean Meatballs are!

I usually eat half of an avocado and some gluten free granola with soy milk for breakfast. But I like to get a little more creative and involved on the weekends. I also try to eat one egg on the weekends, in hopes that my body will be “less” allergic to them in the future. I can handle one egg, but am scared to try more. So, with my one egg indulgence, I made a sausage and egg scramble that was scrumptious on this lazy Sunday morning!

Basil and Apple Sausage Scramble

Pieces:

one quarter cup onion, chopped

one tsp. vegan butter

salt and pepper, to taste

one chicken apple sausage (cooked), cut into small pieces

one egg

one half tsp. smoked paprika

2 tbsp. goat cheese

1 basil leaf, chopped

Process:

In a saute pan, add the onion, butter, and salt and pepper over medium heat. Saute until onion is soft.

Add the sausage and saute just another minute or two, until the sausage is browned.

Add the egg, and stir to get the egg scrambled and cooked. Reduce heat to low.

Always looking for lunch ideas, I decided to make a light version of chili using turkey, white beans, and nutrient rich vegetables. It is colorful, festive, and full of flavor. A great spring time twist on the hearty winter meal. It definitely spiced up my day!

Fiesta Chili

Pieces:

1 pound ground turkey meat

3 tbsp. olive oil

2 tsp. cumin

2 tsp. smoked paprika

one half of an onion, chopped

salt and pepper, to taste

1 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 green peppers, chopped

2 yellow peppers, chopped

1 zucchini, chopped

2 cans diced tomatoes with chilies

1 can small white beans

1 can black eye peas

Process:

In a large deep saute pan, add the turkey, oil, cumin, paprika, onion, salt and pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Stir constantly, mixing the flavors and breaking up the turkey into small chunks.

In the mood for something a little different this weekend, I made a curry stir fry. I used tofu, sweet potatoes, and red peppers. I know that tofu is not everyone’s favorite… so this recipe would be just as good with chicken. And for those that are afraid of curry… this would be a good recipe to dip your toe into. It has great curry flavor, but isn’t too overwhelming. I think that is what is so great about stir fry… you can always tweak it to what your individual tastes are.

Curried Sweet Potato Stir Fry

Pieces:

one block of tofu, cut into bite sized pieces and dried on towels

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces

1 large red pepper, cut into bite sized pieces

one half of an onion, cut into bite sized pieces

2 tbsp. yellow curry powder

2 tsp. cinnamon sugar (or 1 tsp. of each)

2 tsp. smoked paprika

salt and pepper to taste

one half cup dried cranberries

Process:

To prep the tofu… cut into small blocks and set in between two towels for an hour to dry out.

In a large saute pan, add the olive oil and tofu pieces.

Let sit on medium high heat for about 4 minutes…then flip the tofu to brown the other sides.

Looking for simple dinners this week to ease back into the swing of things after the holiday, I baked a couple turkey breasts and wanted a smokey side to go with them. So I made Simple Roasted Broccoli, flavored with 4 spices. My smokey spice choices were a good combination with the turkey, and it was so easy to make!

Simple Roasted Broccoli

Pieces:

one head of broccoli

olive oil for misting/drizzling, about 1 tbsp.

1 tsp. smoked sea salt

1 tsp. lemon pepper

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 tsp. chili powder

Process:

Cut the stems off of the broccoli so only the florets remain.

Spread out the broccoli florets on a cookie sheet.

Mist the broccoli with olive oil, or drizzle. (I like misting because it lessens how much you use, and it spreads evenly.)

I love Mexican flavors and cooking, but flour tortillas and cheese and sour cream are my worst enemies. So, to bring some of my favorite Mexican flavors into my kitchen, I made Drunken Stuffed Peppers… a little tequila and lime flavoring definitely did the trick!

Pieces:

3 large green peppers

2 tbsp. olive oil for misting

1 lb. ground sirloin (hamburger) meat

one half of an onion, chopped

2 cans chopped tomatoes with spicy chilies in them

2 shots tequila

juice of one lime

2 tbsp. cumin

2 tbsp. smoked paprika

Process:

Cut the peppers in half, lengthwise, so they look like bowls.

Lay the peppers on a large cookie sheet and spray lightly with oil. Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes, until fork tender.

In a large saute pan coated with cooking spray, add the meat and chopped onion. Stir it for a few minutes until the meat starts to brown.